Josh McDaniels still is the front-runner for an NFL head coaching job.

It is not the one in Cleveland — the former Canton McKinley quarterback has withdrawn his name from consideration. McDaniels’ target job could be the one in New England, where he is a logical successor when Bill Belichick decides to retire.

McDaniels, 37, interviewed with a Browns contingent headed by owner Jimmy Haslam on Saturday. The Browns’ party flew to New England, where McDaniels is preparing the Patriots for a playoff game as offensive coordinator.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McDaniels had an “awesome” session with the Browns before withdrawing.

One theory has it that McDaniels bowed out to avoid the embarrassment of not being offered the job.

Just as plausible is a scenario wherein Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft spent recent times clarifying McDaniels’ prospects for succeeding Belichick.

Belichick has given no indication he wishes to retire soon, but he is going on 62 and has been grinding away in the NFL since before McDaniels was born.

Belichick has been a mentor and confidant to McDaniels since the latter joined the Patriots in 2001, less than six years after he graduated from McKinley.

McDaniels has relied on Belichick’s advice as to when he was ready to be a head coach and which jobs would be desirable, or dangerous. McDaniels landed the head coaching job in Denver in 2009, but was fired after 12 games in 2010.

ESPN said the Browns found McDaniels to be “more likable than they expected.”

Where Haslam goes from here emerges as the Browns’ big question. There is an outcry for him to make a splash, but obvious targets Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden have sent signals they are not available.

One possibility no one has been talking about, by way of splash: Mike Shanahan. He is a few months younger than Belichick, and recently was fired by the Redskins.

McDaniels replaced Shanahan in Denver in 2009. Shanahan’s record as an NFL head coach is 169-137 in the regular season and 8-6 in the postseason.

From 1995-2005, Shanahan had just one losing season in Denver and won two Super Bowls. Since a 13-3 year in 2005, however, his record with the Broncos and Redskins is 48-64.

He would be a problematic candidate, as is the case with other candidates, even if they are available.

Gus Malzahn just finished his first year as Auburn head coach. Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is very young, 35, and never was part of a big winner before Peyton Manning joined the team.

Defensive coordinators Todd Bowles of the Cardinals and Dan Quinn of the Seahawks are projections with lighter credentials than Romeo Crennel had when the Browns hired him in 2005.